Steaming device for garment presses



apk. 23 W24 L59fi95 D. H. BENJAMlN STEIAMING DEVICE FOR GARMENT PRESSES Original Filed April 11, 1918 3 5 s 1 Se t. 23, 1924. 1,9,09 D. H. BENJAMIN STEAMING DEVICE 'FOR GARMENT PRESSES Original Filed April 11, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jim/5222271 Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANA H. BENJAMIN, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR. BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, T METROPOLITAN TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STEAMING DEVICE FOR GARMENT PRESSES.

Application filed April 11, 1918, Serial No. 228,009. Renewed February 13, 1922. Serial No. 536,373.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DANA H. BENJAMIN, citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland Heights, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steaming Devices for Garment Presses, of

which the followin is a specification.

This invention re ates to steaming devices 1 for garment presses, and more particularly to the controlling mechanism therefor.

Garment presses of this type are usually provided with means for applying steam or moisture to the garment or material to be pressed, said devices being manipulated by the operator at will. In these machines the garment is pressed under heavy pressure between pressing members, and its close confinement in many machines prevents proper flow or distribution of steam to the garment.

Therefore, if the operator manipulates the steaming devices while the press is closed,

the garment is not sufficiently steamed, and

the operators of these presses are usually relatively ignorant so that they do not operate the steaming devices when the press is partially open, and therefore either by neglect or carelessness do not secure the proper results.

The present invention has for its object to insure a complete supply of steam to the garment by requiring the operator to manipulate the steaming devices before the press is closed and absolutely preventing him from manipulating it when closed, as a consequence of which the full supply of steam must flow into the space between the pressing members and be distributed to the press cloth. A- further object of the invention is 4 to provide an improved pressing machine having a movable pressing member and mechanism controlled by the movement of said member for controlling the operation of the steaming devices, whereby the latter can be manipulated only when the pressing member is out of pressing relation with its co-operating member.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one em bodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, showing the press closed; and Fig.

2 is a detail view of the upper portion of the press in open position.

The press itself requires only brief description. It may be of any suitable form or construction, so long as it embodies two relatively movable pressing members between which the garment or material is pressed. As illustrated said press comprises a suitable frame 1 carrying the lower pressing member 2 which may be heated by steam and padded as usual. The frame is provided with an upright 3 to which is pivotally connected the arm or lever 4 carrying the upper pressing member 5 and a counter-weight 6. By swinging movement of said lever on its support the upper pressing member can be moved toward and from the lower pressing member and thereby into and out of co-operative pressing relation therewith. Any suitable mechanism may be provided for operating said lever. The drawings show for this purpose a pivoted foot-treadle 7 connected by a link 8 to one arm of a lever 9 whose other arm is connected by a link 10 to the joint between two toggle members 11. A tension spring 12 connects the outer arm of lever 4 to the fixed base. The head or upper pressing member is brought down toward the bed or lower pressing member by depressing the foot treadle, and the spring 12 returns the parts to normal position.

The upper pressing member 5 may be heated by steam supplied to its inner chamber 13 through a pipe 14. Said head is also provided with a suitable steaming device, which in the form shown comprises a pipe or conduit 15 extending along the front edge of the head and supplied with steam from the chamber 13 by a conduit 16. In said conduit is an ordinary hand valve 17 and a suitable steaming valve 18 capable of being opened to permit flow of steam to the steaming devices by depression of its valve rod 19. The operating mechanism for the steaming valve is as follows:

20 indicates the supports for a handle 21 by means of which the operator manually depresses the head, if desired, prior to application of his foot to the treadle for producing more powerful pressure. Handle 21 is rotatable on its own axis in the supports 20 and is provided with an arm 22 connected by a link 23 to a lever 24 pivoted at 25 upon a support 26 fixed relatively to the valve 18 and head 5. 27 indicates a compression spring tending to raise the lever 24 and allow the valve 18 to close. When the handle 21 is turned in the counter clock-wise direction, Fig. 2, valve rod 19 is depressed and the valve 18 is opened to allow flow of steam.

The automatic control for the steaming valve comprises an arm 28 on the lever 24 having a pin 29 working in an elongated slot 30 in the head 31 of a link whose rod 32 is pivotally connected at 33 to a stationary support 34 carried by the machine frame.

" Head 31 may be threaded on the rod 32 and held in adjusted position thereon by a lock nut 35.

When the head is depressed into closed pressing relation with the bed, as in Fig. 1, the operator cannot operate the steaming devices, because the pin 29 is at the forward end of the slot 30 and clock-wise motion of the lever 24, 28 is prevented. The operator cannot, therefore, apply steam to the garment or permit it to flow to the steaming devices when the head and bed are in closed pressing relation. WVhen the head is raised, however, the pin 29 moves back through the slot 30, due to the fact that the arm or lever 4 and rod 32 swing on different pivots. Therefore, clock-wise motion of lever 24 is permitted...

When the head is raised or during the downward motion of said head, up to a certain point, the operator can apply steam to the garment. The operators of these machines know that steam is essential to proper pressing. After learning that steam cannot be applied when tlfe head is fully down the operators are'forced to apply steam before the head reaches full pressing relation with the bed and must therefore obtain the proper pressing effect. Waste of steam by attempts to steam when the head is down is also prevented.

VVhat I claim is:

1. A. garment press, comprising relatively movable pressing members, means arranged when operated to supply steam to a garment between said members, and means arranged to prevent operation of said steaming means when said members are in pressing relation.

2. A garment press, comprising relatively movable pressing members, means for supplying steam to a garment between said members, and means rendered effective by relative closing movement between said members for locking said steaming means in inoperative position when said members are in pressing relation.

'3. A garment press, comprising relatively movable pressing members, means for supplying steam to a garment between said members, and means rendered effective by relative closing movement between said members for locking said steaming means in inoperative position when said members are in pressing relation, said means being also so arranged that relative opening movement between said members releases said steaming means for operation when said members are out of pressing relation.

4. A garment press, comprisinga stationary lower pressing member, a movable upper pressing member, means for supplying steam to a garment between said members, and means for preventing operation of said steaming means when said upper member is in pressing position.

5. A garment press, comprising a stationary lower pressing member, a movable upper pressing member, means thereon for supply ing steam to a garment between said members, and means cooperating with said upper member for preventing operation of said steaming means when said upper member is in pressing position.

6. A pressing machine, comprising a main supporting frame, a lower pressing member carried thereby, a swinging arm on said frame carrying an upper pressingmember, means for applying steam to a garment between said members, andoperating means therefor movable with the upper member and operatively connected to the stationary main frame.

7. A garment press, comprising a stationary frame, a lower pressing member, a swinging arm carrying an upper pressing member, means on said upper pressing member for applying steam to a garment between said members, and means extending from said upper pressing member to the stationary frame and arranged to prevent operation of said steaming means when the upper pressing member is in its lowest position.

8. A garment press, comprising relatively movable pressing members, and means operable only when the press is open for supplying steam to a garment between said members.

9. A garment press, comprising relatively movable pressing members, means for supplying steam to a garment between said members, and means operable at will for permitting operation of the steam supply means only when the press is open.

10. A garment press, comprising relatively movable pressing members, a lever arm operable by the operator for opening and closing the press, means for supplying steam to a garment between said pressing members, and a lever mechanism for permitting supply of steam to the garment only when the press is open, said lever mechanism having an operating handle mounted upon said lever arm, whereby a common operating handle is provided for opening and closing the press and for controlling the supply of steam to the garment.

11. A garment press, comprising a stationary frame, a lower pressing member, an upper pressing member movable towards and from said lower member, means for supplying steam to a garment between said members, means for controlling the supply of steam to the garment, said control means including a lever pivoted upon said upper member and an arm pivoted upon said frame,

said lever and arm being interconnected for relative movement and said arm serving to limit the extent of movement of said lever, said parts being so constructed and arranged that said lever reaches its limit of movement when the press is closed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

DANA H. BENJAMIN. 

